Locomotive whistle



Dec. 23, 1930. c. T. M ELVAN EY. JR.. ET AL 1,786,122

LQCOMOTIVE WHISTLE Filed April'28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l BY I ATTORNEY.

Dec. 23, 1930.

c. T. MGELVANEY, JR. ET AL 1,786,122

LOCOMOTIVE WHISTLE Filed April 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1- A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES THORNTON MCELVANEY, JR., AND EDWARD PAUL GOLDING, OF DALLAS, TEXAS LOCOMOTIVE WHISTLE Application filed April 28,

This invention relates to improvements in locomotive Whistles, and the primary object thereof is to provide a locomotive whistle whereby the sound produced thereby will be decreased at right angles to the whistle and to the rear and rearwardly of the train.

A further and important object of the invention is to provide a whistle of this character operable by dry steam, and disposed on the front of the locomotive, whereby condensation of steam is eliminated to prevent impairment of the sound of the whistle.

Another object of the improved whistle is to prevent undue sound in the engine cab and to eliminate passage of steam to the cab. A still further object of the whistle is to prevent ice forming in the reflector of the whistle from affecting the latter.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will be better understood from a perusal of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:

Figure 1 represents in part a steam locomotive with a whistle of ordinary type and customary location.

Figure 2 illustrates a locomotive with a whistle on the front end, with the operating valve back at the dome and with an intervening pipe whereby a pocket is formed, causing a condensation of steam.

Figure 3 represents a locomotive with its whistle and valve disposed on the front end of the locomotive, but in which the steam pipe inclines from the dome to the whistle, thus forming a pocket in the whistle pipe permitting the collection of water.

Figure 4: illustrates a steam locomotive with the improved whistle and reflector mounted on the front end of the locomotive,

and including means for preventing condensation of steam which might afleot the whistle.

Figure 5 represents a vertical sectional view through the reflector which forms a part of the invention, and showing the whistle mounted in the reflector.

Figure 6 is a rear view of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional View through the reflector, the whistle being indicated in 1930. Serial No. 447,872.

broken-line formation, and showing diagrammatically the sound path of the whistle.

Proceeding in accordance with the drawings, 1 indicates in part a steam locomotive with customary steam dome 2 and pump 3. In Figure 1, the whistle 4 being disposed adjacent the cab, causes steam to blow back into the engineers face and makes a deadening sound in the cab, this being the old style of location and type of whistle. In Figure 2, while the whistle 4 is disposed at the front of the locomotive, the operative valve 5 is also adjacent the cab, hence the pipe 5 allows steam to condense and affect the whistle. Another arrangement of the whistle is shown at the front of the locomotive in Figure 3, but while in this arrangement the whistle and valve are both at the front of the locomotive, the type of locomotive includes an inclined steam pipe 6, caused by the higher.

position of the dome 2, hence the whistle is affected by water collecting in the pipe 5.

The invention comprises the combination of a whistle and reflector as shown in Figure 5,the Whistle and reflector being mounted at the front of the locomotive, as shown in F igure 4. In this arrangement the reflector 7 is mounted in an inclined position on a support 8, and the whistle 9 is mounted inside the reflector. The reflector is frustoconical in shape and is aflixed to the support 8 by bolts 10 or in any convenient and practical manner. Experiment has demonstrated that by making the reflector in this shape, rather than parabolic, with an opening in the frustum or back of the reflector approximately twice as large as at the mouth of the reflector, the desired result of sound projection is attained. For this purpose the reflector 7 has such an opening 11, and in addition there is formed adjacent this opening an annular lip 12, the lip thus providing a partial closure. The opening 11 is thus of a diameter or size approximating one-third the size of the whistle 9.

The whistle'includesa valve 14, carried on a valve stem 15, the latter having connection with the bell crank 17 and operably connected, with the steam or whistle cord 18. The usual steam pipe 19 supplies dry steam for operation of the whistle. The whistle is spaced forwardly of the opening 11 as shown in Figure 5 and supported by the rod 20. The opening 11 is large enough to permit some of the sound to travel back over the train, whereby mail clerks and other members of the crew may be warned of approach to stations, and such signals as are required in calling a flagman and the like. In Figure 7 the heavy lines A indicate the sound waves striking against the lip 12 and the sides of the reflector at right angles to the whistle, some of the waves passing through the opening to the rear of the train. The light lines B indicate the forward projection of the sound waves as the sound is projected ahead.

Referring to Figure 4, the pipe C which supplies dry steam for the operation of the whistle is shown on an incline and connected to the pump pipe D, to permit any condensation of steam to pass back into the pump and carried off, the pump being in operation more or less while the locomotive is in operation. This piping may be changed to other auxiliaries and appurtenances whereby the whistle pipe is drained of any condensation. In this arrangement no water can accumulate in the whistle pipe, and form a detriment to the clear sound of the whistle. With the reflector thus placed at an angle toward the ground, air pressure built up in front of the locomotive, traveling at a high rate of speed, to pass under the reflector above the smokestack E when the whistle is sounded, eliminating the steam from obscuring the engine crews vision as the locomotive approaches a crossing or station.

liile the disclosure illustrates a practical embodiment of the invention, obviously modifications and alterations are capable of being made, such as would be within the scope and meaning of the appended claims.

\Vhat is claimed as new is:

1. A locomotive whistle disposed on a locomotive at the front of the latter and over the smoke arch and protruding ahead of the locomotive; a substantially frusto-conical reflector in association with the whistle, the whistle being mounted inside the reflector, both reflector and whistle being inclined downwardly toward the ground in front of the locomotive; said reflector having an opening at its rear end and an annular lip formed adjacent the opening, the opening and the lip formation permitting some of the sound waves to travel backwardly over the train when the whistle is sounded, the maximum amount of the sound waves being projected forward in front of the locomotive, due to the reflector.

2. A locomotive whistle disposed on a locomotive at the front of the latter and over the smoke arch and protruding ahead of the locomotive; a substantially frusto-conical reflector in association with the whistle, the

whistle being mounted inside the reflector, both reflector and whistle being inclined downwardly toward the ground in front of the locomotive; said reflector having an opening at its rear end and an annular lip formed adjacent the opening; and a piped connection with the whistle for supplying the latter with steam said piped connection being inclined rearwardly of the whistle and having connection with a steam pump, said inclined pipe for the additional purpose of draining off water caused by condensation of steam.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatnres.

CHARLES THORNTON McELVANEY, .lr.

EDWARD PAUL GOLDING. 

